One of the original selling points of satellite television was that it made a large selection of programming available in areas that lay outside the reach of cable services. Even those who couldn't get clear broadcast signals were able to receive a clear picture from satellite, making the service one of the most rapidly-adopted television services available, particularly in rural areas.
Getting a satellite signal is surprisingly easy. The signal is received with a small dish which is placed in a location where it has a clear view of the southern sky where the broadcast satellites orbit. Generally, the dish is placed on the roof but in cases where the view is obscured by trees or other barriers, it can easily be set up in a different location. These dishes are very small, nothing like the original satellite dishes that were often over 10 feet in diameter, and are barely noticeable no matter where they're located.
A professional installer will locate the dish for new customers. This forgoes the customer the hassle of having to install it themselves and ensures that the hardware is set up for maximum clarity of signal and in a way that guarantees that it's mounted in a secure and safe fashion.
Inside the house, additional equipment is used to provide the signal to the various televisions in the home. This equipment is easy to use and is controlled with a remote. The features are very powerful, including access to menus that describe programming currently available and that which is coming available, the ability to purchase pay-per-view programs and on-demand selections.
Because the signal is received from space rather than from a terrestrial source, just about anywhere in the world has access to satellite television services. Satellite dishes are an almost ubiquitous site all over the globe now, from the most remote deserts to the most crowded urban centers. There is hardly a place where one cannot receive a satellite signal.
Having satellite television hooked up opens up your home to the latest in news and information from around the world, a huge selection of movies and television stations and streaming music from a variety of genres. The technology available to satellite broadcasters enables them to offer this impressive amount of choices at a very high quality. In fact, high-definition television, usually abbreviated HDTV, has revolutionized television entertainment. The quality of movies rivals that seen in theaters and a large-screen television can make watching a travel program seem like taking a vacation to the subject country itself.
Finding out the availability of satellite television in any area generally requires no more than a call to a provider. The service is almost certainly available, no matter where you happen to be located. The only real question is what level of service to which the customer desires to subscribe. In addition, many satellite providers offer broadband Internet along with their television and streaming music services. For those inside or outside a city, satellite is a practical, cost-effective option.
